Self-balancing window.



110.791,?28. PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905*.

J H. 0; SMITH; SELF BALANCING WINDOW.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1902. RENEWED MAR. 17, 1905. I

MIMI" UNITED STATES Patented. June 6, 1905.

PATENT OF ICE.

HENRY COLLIER. SMITH, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH-VVARREN COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SELF-BALANCING WINDOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 791,728, dated 'June 6, 1905.'

Application filed January 2, 1902. Renewed liarch I7, 1905. Serial No. 250.604.'

1'0 all whmn it new concern: I

Be it known that I, HENRY COLLIER SMITH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cam bridge, in the county of Middlesex and State 5 ofMassachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Self-Balancing Windows, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this 1 specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates, to that class of windows having sashes Vertically movable in the window-frame and so hung and adjustably connected with each other by cords or chains I5 that as the lower sash descends the upper sash is simultaneously raised into place, being overbalanced by the heavier weight of the lower sash.

I The invention consists in an improved method for accomplishing this result, primarily in the manner of weighting the lower sash and the fastening and adjustment of th connecting cords or chains. T It will be understood that as the lower sash 5 is made sufficiently heavy to descend and overbalance and raise the upper sash the normal tendency would be for the window to remain closed were it not for some counterbalancing means. This is provided for by a friction- 3 bearing spring attached to the sash and automatically pressing against the side of the frame withsuflicient stress to hold both sashes open in any position to which they may be moved. This spring is preferably attached to the sash by a solder fusible at a relatively low temperature, so that when the tempera-- ture is reached the spring becomes detached,

its friction-bearing released, and the material weight of the lower sash will then cause 4 it not only to drop and close, but will also enable it to lift and close the upper sash.

In the drawing there is shown a portion of a Window, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, and showing especially the means comprising my invention hereinafter to be explained.

In the drawing, A represents the lower sash; B, the upper sash; C, the window-frame. The frame comprises. the side section C, the head section C and thesill C The sashes 5 may be of wood or metal. I have represented them as of sheet metal, the cavities to the frame being filled with mortar, cement, or other non-combustible, if desired. Each sash is adapted to be vertically moved in the side section of'the frame in the ordinary manner of opening and closing windows. Connecting the two sashes is the cord or chain 0, passing up and over the fixed pulley c and of such length and adjustment that as the lower sash descends the upper sash isoverbalanced and simultaneously raised into place.

. Within the bottom rail, on each side of the lower sash, are placed the weights a of size sufficient to produce the counterbalancing ef- 5 feet. Projecting fromthe lower outer end of each weight into the plane of the side rails to the sashes are the lugs a. Through each lug a passes the bolt m with head accessible on the under side of the sash, that the bolt a 7 may be turned. The bolt has a threaded section (6 on which is placed an adjusting-nut a, against which bears the wire 7), twisted about the bolt a The nut a is prevented from turning by this same wire '6 twisting back on itself to form a shoulder against which the nut o bears at the point a, softhat when the bolt (4 is turned the nut (4 and so the wire 6, israised up'or down andthe connecting-chain c lengthened or shortened, for the wire 6 9- passes diagonally up through the side rail for some distance and terminates in a hook I), which engages with the connecting-chain 0 through an opening 6 in the side rail a short distance from the top of the lower sash., The 5 chain 0 passes up alongside the side section of the window-frame and for a short distance between it andthe sash-rail, which is recessed to allow of such passage, and over the pulley c, then down, to engage with a hook project- 9 ing through the side rail to the upper sash, substantially as in the lower sash. The pulley c occupies a recess in the top of the frame to facilitate this adjustment and is pivoted between the plates 0 and 0 the one fastened to the head section C of the window-frame, the other to the side section C.

The advantage of this construction arises not only from the simple but effective method of hanging and adjusting the" sashes, but also from the fact that the connecting-chains and the means for their adjustment are attached to the overbalancing-Weights placed in the bottom of the lower sash instead of being at tached to the sash directly, with the result that the sash is less likely to become strained. Its adjustment is better maintained and the overbalancing efiect of the weights brought to bear to the greatest advantage.

I have shown in the drawing one side only of the window-sashes and window-frame and one only of the connecting chains. The other side of the window sashes and frame and the arrangement of the other connectingchain are the same as above described. Of course in so far as the scope of my invention is concerned a window may be equipped on one or both of its sides with a connectingchain, and so with the overbalancing-weight in the bottom rail of the lower sash. Such weight may consist of an integral structure or may be made up of a plurality of parts.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In self balancing sash windows, the sashes, a supplementary, overbalancingweight concealed inside the bottom rail to the lower sash, a sash cord or chain at one end secured to said weight and at the other end connected with the upper sash, and which weight through theintermediary of said cord or chain is adapted to hold both sashes in a normally, overbalanced, closed position, substantially as described.

2. In self balancing sash windows, the sashes, overbalancing-weights placed in the bottom rail to the lower sash, lugs projecting therefrom, the sash cords or chains adjustably secured to said lugs, and means for procuring their connection and adjustment substantially as described.

3. In self balancing sash-windows, the

sashes, with a supplementary overbalancing weight or weights concealed within the bottom rail to the lower sash, the sash cords or chains making connection with said weightor weights through slotted openings cut through the exterior edges of the side rails to the lower sash, and means for obtaining such connection.

4. In selfbalancing sash windows, the sashes with a supplementary overbalancing weight or weights concealed within the bottom rail to the lower sash, the sash cords or chains making adjustable connection with said weight or weights through slotted openings cut through the exterior edges of the side rails of the lower sash, and means for obtaining such adjustable connection, substantially as described.

5. In selfbalancing sash windows, the sashes, sash cords or chains connecting the same, and concealed means for adjusting the length of the said sash cords or chains from the under edge to the bottom rail to the lower sash.

6. In self-balancing sash-windows, the respective sashes, cords or chains connecting the same and so adjusted as to their length that as the one sash descends the other is simultaneously raised into place, means for procuring such adjustment consisting of a bolt suitably attached to, and adapted to be turned from Without the lower sash, a nut threaded upon said bolt, and making suitable connection with the cord or chain aforesaid so that as said bolt is turned the nut is carried up ordown on the bolt thus increasing or diminishing the length of said cord or chain.

7. In self -balancing sashwindows, the sashes, overbalancing-weights placed in the bottom rail to the lower sash, lugs projecting therefrom, the sash cords or chains adjustably secured to said lugs through an opening in the side rails, the wire 6 with book 6, the bolt (0 and the nut a offering means for such adjustable connection.

HENRY COLLIER SMlTl-I.

itnesses:

JOHN E. R. HAYns, SAUL SIPIERSTEIN. 

